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Pizza Corner to have 100 stores pan-India by 2009-end

01 Jun 2009

Pizza Corner, the leading pizza chain brand of the leading quick service restaurant franchisee Global Franchise Architects (GFA) has rapid expansion plans to have 100 stores pan-India by the end of 2009. Presently, the pizza brand is present across India with a network of around 45 outlets.

The Geneva-based group recently closed down its existing seven Pizza Corner outlets in Delhi and had plans to expand in Chennai and Hyderabad and other southern regions in India. However, now the company plans to expand its business network through the master franchisee route, even in the northern regions, according to a company official.

Speaking to ImagesFood.com on the approach behind the paradigm shift towards south India, Joseph Cherian, MD, GFA Global & CEO GFA India, said, “We still are present at five locations in Delhi. But, as our corporate office is in Bengaluru and we believe that there is a lot of opportunity for us to grow further in the southern region, we are focusing on building critical mass in that region. We are in talks with partners who can take master franchisee for our brands in the northern region”

Further, he added, “As a brand, we look forward to have 100 profitable stores pan-India by this year, through a combination of company owned and franchise owned stores. We will also be expanding through the master franchising route especially for the northern and eastern region by effectively leveraging our investments in back end and utilising our strengths in support structures as this model has proved to be successful for all our international partners.”

With its diverse basket of offering in speciality pizzas, Pizza Corner made its presence felt first in Chennai, subsequently expanding its roots to Bengaluru, Hyderabad and then Delhi. But the chain has had to strategically tweak its retail network in recent months. It has reduced its presence in Delhi in 2008, and has since moved ahead to extend its presence further in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.

The company’s next strategy to move ahead in this increasingly competitive category involves expansion with a focus on franchising in Indian and international markets.

— Akansha Srivastava